Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Exacta with Senza Parole

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, Sept. 2 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Saratoga, along with horses to play in the $1,219 Super High 5 carryover at Mountaineer.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• New Players $200 Sign-Up Bonus: Open your TwinSpires.com account using the offer code BET200 to start earning a $200 bonus.
• $2,000 Exacta Hit It and Split It at Horseshoe Indianapolis: Opt in and hit two exactas at Horseshoe Indianapolis for a chance to split a $2,000 prize pool each racing Wednesday in August and September.
• 15% Odds Boost at Saratoga: Opt in to receive a 15% odds boost (up to $25 per day) on your winning single-horse win wagers at Saratoga each racing Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday until Sept. 4.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $82 Saratoga Bet and Set Feeder to 9/7 Mint Millions Cash Challenge
• $40 Saratoga Challenge
• $150 Saratoga Challenge
• $120 Saratoga Bonus Feeder to 9/3 King of the Turf Qualifier
• $40 Mountaineer Challenge
• $60 Mountaineer Feeder to 9/6 Kentucky Downs Bonus Feeder

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on dirt, 2:10 p.m. ET)

#5 Channelurambition (7-2) has shown early speed in his first three starts sprinting five furlongs at this track and class level. He’s bred to relish stretching out over one mile, so encountering a slower pace in his two-turn debut could set the stage for a big step forward.

Let’s try a win bet on Channelurambition, then single him to start a small daily double.

Selections

• #5 Channelurambition (7-2)
• #7 Chief of Change (9-2)
• #8 Tricked You (5-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #5 Channelurambition
• $5 Double: 5 with 3
  Total: $25

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 2: Allowance (one mile on dirt, 2:41 p.m. ET)

After placing in a couple of maiden special weight sprints at Churchill Downs, #3 Fashion Designer (5-2) relished stretching out over one mile and 70 yards in a Horseshoe Indianapolis maiden special weight. She led all the way to dominate by 10 3/4 lengths with an 80 Brisnet Speed rating.

None of the other Race 2 entrants have earned a Brisnet Speed rating as high as 80 this year, so Fashion Designer has a strong chance to record another victory for hot trainer Brad Cox, who strikes at a 28% rate with last-out maiden winners.

We’ll single Fashion Designer to conclude our daily double, then bet her to win.

Selections

• #3 Fashion Designer (5-2)
• #7 No Time Left (6-1)
• #6 Bamtwentyklater (6-1)

Wagers

• $35 to win on #3 Fashion Designer

Saratoga: Race 4: $110,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (six furlongs on dirt, 2:56 p.m. ET)

#3 Senza Parole (6-5) hasn’t missed the trifecta in four starts at Saratoga. Last time out, she finished second by half a length in a seven-furlong sprint at this class level, earning a career-best 100 Brisnet Speed rating.

Senza Parole appears well-spotted to snag a win for the hot jockey/trainer duo of Flavien Prat and Chad Brown. #6 Strong State (7-2), recently victorious in an $80,000 allowance optional claimer at Saratoga, can rally to complete the exacta.

Selections

• #3 Senza Parole (6-5)
• #6 Strong State (7-2)
• #5 My Magic Wand (6-1)

Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 3 with 6

Carryover Watch

Mountaineer: Race 8: $1,219 Super High 5 carryover (9:55 p.m. ET)

If you can select the top five finishers, in order, in Wednesday’s final race at Mountaineer, you can win a share of a $1,219 Super High 5 carryover.

Assembling a winning ticket is easier said than done, and we recommend waiting until scratches are announced to plan your tickets in detail. A dozen horses have entered Race 8, but two are on the also-eligible list, and that includes co-favorite #12 Giuliana’s Dream (2-1).

Race 8 is a $3,200 claimer for fillies and mares dashing 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt. The conditions appear suitable for Giuliana’s Dream. Last fall, she dominated a six-furlong maiden special weight and a 5 1/2-furlong $5,000 claimer at Finger Lakes, leading by daylight throughout both races. Her maiden win came by seven lengths with a 78 Brisnet Speed rating; her second victory produced an identical Brisnet Speed rating and a four-length margin of victory.

Giuliana’s Dream misfired in her first start of 2026, but she bounced back in a 4 1/2-furlong $5,000 claimer at Charles Town last month, leading all the way to win by six lengths with a 74 Brisnet Speed rating. If she draws in off the also-eligible list, we recommend keying Giuliana’s Dream on top in the Super High 5. But she’ll need two scratches in order to compete, and that’s not a given.

The other co-favorite—the one already in the main body of the field—is #7 I’m On Edge (2-1). She’s dropping down in class after finishing a solid second in a six-furlong $7,500 claimer at Mountaineer, in which she dueled for the lead before weakening late.

I’m On Edge isn’t quite as fast on paper as Giuliana’s Dream; her best Brisnet Speed rating is a 74, earned when wiring a $5,000 claimer dashing 5 1/2 furlongs at Thistledown in July. But a top-three finish appears well within reach, and if Giuliana’s Dream is kept out of the field, I’m On Edge is a logical filly to play on top.

#9 Scream Machine (4-1) is another runner to respect. She hasn’t missed the trifecta in her last five starts at Mountaineer, and last time out she posted a 78 Brisnet Speed rating when finishing third in a 4 1/2-furlong $4,000 claimer.

Good luck!